The Commons provides a school‑day screen management app that enforces phone policies at the system level, allowing students to keep their devices while blocking distracting apps during class.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Student cellphones are a constant source of distraction in classrooms, increasing teacher workload and undermining instructional time, while existing enforcement methods—such as device collection or lock‑based systems—are labor‑intensive, risk loss or damage, and do not teach students responsible technology use.
Solution
The Commons offers a school‑day screen management app that enforces phone policies at the system level, allowing students to keep their devices but restricting access to distracting apps during class. The platform integrates behavioral‑science‑based curriculum and professional development to help students develop self‑regulation skills and healthy tech habits. Real‑time compliance data give administrators visibility into device usage without collecting personal information, and emergency calls and texts remain functional. By automating policy enforcement, the solution reduces teacher burden, protects instructional time, and supports a culture of digital citizenship.
Target Audience
Primary customers are K‑12 school administrators and district leaders seeking to enforce phone policies while maintaining student autonomy, as well as teachers who need a low‑maintenance solution to reduce classroom distractions.
Features
- System‑level “airplane mode” enforcement that blocks non‑essential apps while preserving emergency call and text functionality
- Real‑time compliance dashboard for administrators to monitor device usage across the school day
- Built‑in digital citizenship curriculum and staff professional development to reinforce responsible device habits
- Privacy‑first design that does not collect or store personal student data
- Configurable policy settings ranging from limited, intentional usage to a fully phone‑free day
- Supports K‑12 private, charter, and public schools with a low‑cost licensing model